I'm going to revive an old "zombie thread" and re-ask the question. I was given a 1911 frame and slide. It has sights and I have a new GI barrel. I have a few small parts, but would probably be best off getting a "kit".

It appears SARCO has kits in stock for about $135, including the barrel. I see mixed reviews about SARCO parts kits.

Any other suggestions?

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In life, strive to take the high road....It offers a better field of fire.
"Robo is right" Fuzzball

I'm going to revive an old "zombie thread" and re-ask the question. I was given a 1911 frame and slide. It has sights and I have a new GI barrel. I have a few small parts, but would probably be best off getting a "kit".

It appears SARCO has kits in stock for about $135, including the barrel. I see mixed reviews about SARCO parts kits.

Any other suggestions?

A few questions:

What is the make on the slide and frame?

Have they been fitted together? Is the detent pin tube staked to the frame? The ejector installed? Each can require special tools.

What do you want out of the completed project? Just a beater, shooter? A bullseye gun? Carry piece?

The SARCO kits include some spotty parts. Some are oversized, some don't have any extra metal for fitting, some were jacked up cast parts with incomplete machining.

Sometimes the parts will fit together well enough to get basic function, but barrel and slide, link and pin, and barrel and bushing usually need fitting. Do you have the jigs, stones, files and tools to do the fitting?

Add cost of tools and time and it usually makes more sense to invest in parts you actually want.

If you only build one, the tools, individual parts and time usually make it Ecconomically smarter to buy a gun off the shelf.

__________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger...except submarines, they'll just plain kill you.

I have the skill having attended 4 different armorers schools and life long tinkering. I am familiar with the 1911, having owned a few over the years.

There is no plunger tube and no grip bushings. I have a staking tool for both these parts.

Looking to build a shooter/beater. Brand of the components? No idea, nomarkings. Slide to frame fit is a bit sloppy. I will tighten that up a bit, but I will keep it kind of sloppy as long as it is reliable. I can always tighten up the slide to frame fit, add a longer link and tighter bushing if I choose later.

I understand the SARCO parts are hit or miss. I may solicit small assorted parts from friends who have no need and buy the few I need.

__________________
In life, strive to take the high road....It offers a better field of fire.
"Robo is right" Fuzzball

Ok. That sounds about right. I bought one of the SARCO kits, just to have parts to get a build up and running, and to then have spare parts if needed. I ended up replacing every part over time. The disconnector was missing from the kit, the main spring housing was not drilled for the retaining pin and the grip safety was also not finish machines and had casting flash on it.

If you've already built or rebuilt 1911s, then you are ahead of the game, but looking back, I'd have been better off skipping the SARCO parts.

__________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger...except submarines, they'll just plain kill you.